Handout 1 – Step Three
Flood Scenario Worksheet
Scenario adapted from:
http://www.epa.gov/watersecurity/tools/trainingcd/Simple/Source/Scenario-8/SSc8-0.pdf
Simple Tabletop Exercise, Interdependency – Natural Disaster Scenario, Scenario #8
Exercise Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Evaluate alternatives when daily infrastructure systems fail.
Consider how utilities and other infrastructures are inter-dependent.
Explore public notification mechanisms.
Develop a list of planning goals and potential actions to guide a community’s response to the
disaster.
Scenario Summary
Background
It is March in Thomasville and the residents are experiencing a cold spring. Thomasville is a community
of roughly 18,000 people located in a small valley with a blue line creek running through a portion of the
downtown. Several small crop and livestock farms surround the community and a large county park
offering camping and hiking trails is about three miles outside the city limits. It has been 30 years since
the community last experienced a flood.
Thomasville has grown by about 2,000 people over the last two decades and most of the new residential
development has occurred along the north/south two-lane state road that parallels the creek that winds
through the valley. Thomasville has its own water treatment and sewage plant; a fire department with
two stations and eight full-time and 24 volunteer firemen; and a police department with six sworn
officers. Thomasville also has access to the county sheriff's department and two state highway officers.
There are three ways to get in and out of Thomasville: the north/south two-lane state road, a two-lane
east/west county road that connects to a four-lane state highway four miles from town, and an
intersecting county road that also moves traffic from east to west. There are a variety of city streets and
smaller county roads throughout Thomasville and its surrounding area. The town has a local radio
station but the TV station is regional and comes from a larger city about 80 miles away.
The Event
Early in the morning of March 15th, the National Weather Service Doppler radar indicates that
thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph are headed towards
Thomasville. By 9:00 a.m. that day, runoff from the heavy rain begins to flood low-lying areas in
Thomasville and the wind downs power lines, causing power outages throughout the city. By 5:00 p.m.,
the normally quiet creek has crested its bank, causing more flooding. The strong winds continue to
knock down more power lines. There are reports that in some areas of Thomasville, people are trapped
in their businesses and homes, many streets and roads are flooded, and there is concern for several
homes that are located on a steep slope to the west of Thomasville.
The Results
Roads are closed, and the bridge that links the northern and southern parts of Thomasville has been
washed out. The power is out in many areas across the community. The water and wastewater
treatment plants are running on back-up power generators. The elementary and middle schools have
decided to keep students at the schools because of concerns about bus safety and the high school
students who attend the county high school will not have access to county buses to return home.
ReadyCommunity – STEP THREE: Determine Goals and Actions
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Handout 1 – Step Three
My Role: __________________________________________________
Starting Points
1. What will likely be the priorities and primary concerns of the person you are representing?
2. How will the person you represent view their priorities and concerns related to concerns of
other characters? Think about this in terms of your character’s formal/organizational role as
well as any other roles that might be of significance.
3. How likely is it that you have met or interacted with the other characters? How might this
influence the way your character works with the others?
ReadyCommunity – STEP THREE: Determine Goals and Actions
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Handout 1 – Step Three
Scenario Opening Situation
9:00 a.m., March 15:
A news station reports there are major flooding and power outages throughout the city.
1. What is the command structure needed to deal with a natural disaster such as this? Who is in
charge?
2. How well are utilities prepared for severe weather and power outages?
3. How often and for how long are backup generators tested?
4. What might be a goal(s) for your strategic plan based on the discussion to this point?
ReadyCommunity – STEP THREE: Determine Goals and Actions
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Handout 1 – Step Three
Flood Scenario Additional Challenges
9:35 a.m., March 15:
A phone call from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) superintendent to the public works
manager is made. The backup generator has just failed at the WWTP, and upon inspection, a
new main rotor is required. He will put a call in to the supplier. In the meantime, the
equalization basin is starting to become full and raw sewage will need to be discharged to the
creek.
1. When is the proper time to inform the public, and what is the best way to get the word out?
2. What might be some goals for your strategic plan based on the discussion to this point?
10:20 a.m., March 15:
A police officer calls the water superintendent to let them know that he received a radio call
from an EMS worker reporting that Thomasville Hospital was quickly losing water pressure. He
also informs the water treatment plant that the same EMS worker also noticed water was
gushing out of a pipe under the Congress Street Bridge.
1. What options do the community and the hospital have for restoring water service or insuring
access to safe water?
2. In light of the power and phone outages, how will the utility notify customers in the affected
area?
3. What might be some goals for your strategic plan based on the discussion to this point?
ReadyCommunity – STEP THREE: Determine Goals and Actions
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Handout 1 – Step Three
Noon, March 15:
A news station reports that additional flooding and power outages continue to plague the city.
At this time, police are evacuating residents from flooded areas to designated shelters.
1. How should the evacuation be coordinated?
2. Where should the shelter locations be?
3. What routes should people take to the shelter locations?
4. Do the new areas of flooding and power outages present more concerns for the utilities?
5. What might be some goals for your strategic plan based on the discussion to this point?
ReadyCommunity – STEP THREE: Determine Goals and Actions
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Handout 1 – Step Three
1:00 p.m., March 15:
The Thomasville Hospital notifies the local EMS that the hospital can no longer accept patients.
They will need to redirect incoming ambulances to other hospitals, and they require help in
coordinating the patient transfers. They are uncertain of road closures.
1. How should patients be transferred, since many routes to an alternate hospital are flooded?
2. Does the public need to be informed of the closing of Thomasville Hospital to new patients and
the transfer of their patients to a regional hospital? If so, how would this notification be done?
3. What might be some goals for your strategic plan based on the discussion to this point?
ReadyCommunity – STEP THREE: Determine Goals and Actions
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Handout 1 – Step Three
2:45 p.m., March 15:
A phone call from the water treatment plant to the water utility manager states that the
treatment chemicals are running low. Shipments have been delayed due to the storm.
1. Should a water use restriction be issued? If so, how would local residents be informed?
2. What might be some alternate water sources for the community? If alternate water sources rely
on transport, will a “boil” order suffice to meet water needs?
3. What might be some goals for your strategic plan based on the discussion to this point?
ReadyCommunity – STEP THREE: Determine Goals and Actions
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Handout 1 – Step Three
General Discussion
1. Should a state of emergency be declared? What should be the guidelines for making this
decision?
2. What else needs to be done to handle this escalating incident until aid arrives?
3. What are the key components of an emergency preparedness plan that might be developed to
address this type of emergency? What are some planning goals and actions that could help the
community prepare to respond to this natural disaster?
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Handout 1 – Step Three
ReadyCommunity – STEP THREE: Determine Goals and Actions
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